Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association Praises Port Authority Action to Extend PATH to Newark Liberty International Airport

Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association (D-LMA) President Jessica Lappin today issued the following statement in response to the Port Authority’s final approval of its 10-year capital spending plan which will allocate $4.9 billion to complete the development of the World Trade Center site and $1.5 billion to extend the PATH train to Newark Liberty International Airport:

“Munich. Paris. Hong Kong and now Lower Manhattan. Today's actions by the Port Authority will create a vital mass transit link between the financial capital of the world and its closest international airport — a proven key to prosperity in today's 21st-century, globalized economy.

By extending the PATH train just 2 miles, the ease and value of doing business in Lower Manhattan will dramatically increase, and will spur economic development throughout Lower Manhattan, New York City and Northern New Jersey. We congratulate the Port Authority on this exciting project and look forward to working with their staff to promote this exciting new gateway.”

Currently, New York City is virtually the only international financial capital without a direct transit link from the central business district to an international airport, a growing disadvantage for companies, clients and customers. Creating a seamless mass transit link between Newark airport and Lower Manhattan has been a longstanding priority for the area’s business leaders.

Founded in 1958 by David Rockefeller, the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association is a membership organization of key Lower Manhattan stakeholders committed to a vibrant business community below Canal Street. Sister organization to the Alliance for Downtown New York, it serves as a networking platform for senior corporate and non-profit executives, as well as a public policy forum and powerful advocate for Lower Manhattan.